Feeding mechanism for base-making machines and the like.



T. l. WALKER m. A AKEROYD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKING MACHINESAND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. 1916. 1,210,238. Patented Dec. 26,1916.-

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JNYENTURS THUMAS I. I/KqLKER 'd' LIL/'5 A E'RUYU; .BY 2 i H2413Arrazazsm'y.

I T. I. WALKER & I. A. AKEROYD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKINGMACHINES AND THE LIKE.

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T. I. WALKER 8L1 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1916.

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T. l. WALKER 641. A. AKEROYD.

-FEED|NG MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16. I916- 1&93, V Patented Dec. 26,1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 4.

JAIYENTURS:

- THOMAS J. I/IDILKER,

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THEIR ATTQRNE'Y.

T. I. WALKER & l. A. AKER0YD1 'FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKINGMACHINES AND THE'LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG IG, I916- a w. am w .50 a %m a: M in T wh N 5 m nE m m m P mm, y 3

' T. l. WALKER & I. A. AKEROYD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKINGMACHINES AND THE LIKE.

Patnted Dec. 26,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6 APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. 1916. 1,210,238.

ins/ENT RS. THOMAS .Z. ZIADILKEE, rJuLzus A. Axmavr, WfiM THEIRATTDRNEY.

T. I. WALKER & .I. A. AKEROYD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKINGMACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. I916- I Patented Dec.-26,1916.

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T. I. WALKER & J. A. AKEROYD. F EEDING MECHANISM FOR BASE MAKINGMACHINES AND THE LIKE. I

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16,1916- 7 1,21 3. Patented Dec; 26,1916.

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E PATEN FFICE.

THOMAS I. WALKER AND JULIUS A. AKEROYD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,ASSIGNORS T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FEEDING- MECHANISM FOR BASE-MAKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

Original application filed February 3, 1911, Serial No. 606,401. Dividedand. this application filed August Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

16, 1916. Serial N0. 115,186.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS I. WALKER and JULIUS A. AKEROYD, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Providence,county of Providence, State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful 1mproveinents inFeeding Mechanisms for Base-Making Machines and the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly though not exclusively, tomachines for making the bases of incandescent lamps, such bases commonlyconsisting of metallic shell and center contact pieces united by a webof glass or other fusible insulating material.

In its specific application to this use, the invention comprehendsimproved automatic feeding mechanism for inserting the metallic parts ofthe base into the molds of a base-forming machine, and otherimprovements in the mechanism of the machine.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a conventional typeof machine for making lamp bases, having particularly utility in itsapplication to a machine employed for that purpose. The invention,however, has application to purposes other than, and is not limited to,the manufacture 'of lamp bases, the feeding mechanism in a generic sensebeing applicable to feeding articles, other than metallic base parts,for presentation to any desired operation, or for other purposes.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view showing, in general, abase-making machine embodying one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the same machine, some of the parts being removed forthe sake .of clearness; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation takenthrough one of the molds: Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a typicalform of metallic shell; Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the usual form ofcenter contact or eyelet; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the machineshowing the operating mechanism for the plungers which are employed toinsert the metallic parts of the base in the mold; Fig. 7 is a plan ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an end elevation of theattachment which carries the feeding mechanism; Fig. 9 is adetailshowing the driving connection on the main machine for the feedingattachment; Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 in Fig. 9 on anenlarged scale; Fig. 11 is a section on the line- 1111 in Fig.8, but onan enlarged scale showing one of the driving ge rs for the feedingmechanism; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the hopper for the base shells;Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14is a side elevation of the hopper and hopper driving mechanism for thebase shells; Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 16 is aplan view of the guideway, feeding plate and transferring mechanism forthe base shells; Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1717in Fig.16; Fig. 18 is a plan on an enlarged scale showing the grippingmembers for the shell transfer devices and the operation thereof.

In the drawings, and referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,there is shown,

for illustrative purposes, a machine formold carrier, which serves topresent them in succession to the several operating mechanisms of themachine. Eachmold comprises a shell holder 2 as shown in Fig. 8, fixedto the head 1 and adapted to receive the shell part 4 of the base (seeFig. 4).

The mold is provided with the vertically movable bottom 3, shaped toreceive the bottom of the shell and to hold also 1n appropriate relationthereto the perforated metallic center contact or eyelet 5 shown in Fig.5. The mold bottom has a depending plunger 6 normally depressed to afixed position by the spring 7, but adapted to be lifted at theappropriate time by a vertically movable lifting lever (not shown) toexpel the completed base from the mold. The lifting lever is actuated bya cam (not shown) on the main power shaft of the machine. The moldcarrier is given a step by ste movement by means of the notched wheel 8,

' drawing.

suitable means, so as to present each mold in succession to chargingdevices for introducing a charge of molten glass into the mold,compressing means for compressing and forming the web of molten glass, aclearing device to clear the perforation of the eyelet and finally tothe lifting lever and coiiperating means for removing the completed basefrom the'mold, all of which mechanisms are well known and are not shownin the The movement is such that the mold carrier is caused to dwell foran interval between each movement to permit the several operations totake place simultaneously upon the bases or base parts in differentmolds of the series.

Referring now to the automatic feeding mechanism for feeding andinserting the metallic shell parts in appropriate relation in the molds,both the shell and eyelet parts are carried in appropriate supplyhoppers from which they are discharged to guideways and presentedtherein in a continuous series to devices which convey them and placethem in the molds.

The present application relates specifically to the mechanism forfeeding the metallic shells, the eyelet feeding mechanism beinspecificallyv disclosed. in application Serial No. 606,401, filedFebruary 3, 1911, of which the present application is a division.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and -8, and more particularly set forth in theabove noted application, a supply of eyelet or center contact pieces iscontained in a hopper comprising the cylindrical shell 20, and hingedcover 22 through which the supply of eyelets may be replenished fromtime to time.

The hopper parts are secured to the top 25 of the feeding attachment. Inthe lower edge of the hopper shell there are provided -a. number ofopenings (not shown) of a suitable shape and size to permit thedischarge of the eyelets right side up from the hopper to a travelingwall, the latter com prising the annular plate 27 encircling the hopperand forming the bottom of an eyelet guideway, the sides of which areformed by the hopper shell on one side and the fixed annular plate 28 onthe other. The eyelets are forcibly ejected from the hopper by means(not shown) which agitate the mass and tend to force individual piecesthrough the openings in the shell. The discharged contact pieces arecarried in the guideway partly around the hopper and are. then defiectedinto a continuation of the guideway, the sides of which are formed bythe fixed 6o slotted plate 38 and the bottom by the rotary plate or disk39. Such guideway continuation lies along the edge of the rotary disk 39and the latter is in close proximity to the annular feed plate 27 sothat the contacts pass from the annular plate to the disk and arecarried by the latter-in a continuous series toward the mouth of theguideway, which latter is normally closed by a transfer mechanism. Thedisk 39 is turned by a mechanism which comprises intermeshing gears 42and 43. A lateral exit 44 leading to the box or receptacle 45 isprovided for taking care of the overflow from the hopper 20. To drivethe described feeding mechanism the shaft which carries the beveledpinion 43 has at its opposite end a pinion 46 meshing with the pinion37, which drives the feed plate 27 and also meshes with the drivingpinion 47 (see Fig. 2,), the latter fixed I on the upper end of a driveshaft 48 (see Figs. 2 and 8) to the lower end of which is secured thebeveled pinion 49 meshing with a larger gear 50. The gear 50 is drivenfrom the main driving shaft 51 of the feed frame attachment.

To provide relief in case the feed jams, the two rotary feed plates aredriven through a yielding or friction connection from the shaft 51. Forthatpurpose both sides of the beveled gear 50 (see Fig. 11) are facedwith friction material 52 and the gear is held by the spring 55 betweenthe flanged sleeve 53, fixed on the driving shaft 51, and the slidingcollar 54, the latter splined on the sleeve thereby permitting anyrequired slippage.

The eyelets are transferred one by one from the mouth of the outlet andpresented to the mouth of the transfer mechanism, which, as shown,comprises a pair of gripping members which are reciprocated back andforth in front of the guideway outlet by the oscillating arm 56. Thegripping means comprises the member 57 having an arc-shaped promulgationwhich closes the mouth of theguideway at all times except when thegripper is in the receiving position. A pocket or recess 58 is formedbetween this member 57 and the member 59, which is pivoted on the member57.

When the grippers are retracted, the projecting end of the gripper 59strikes the outer edge of the guideplate 38 and is forced back from thegripper 57 to permit the reception'of the contact. As soon as thegrippers move forward, the movable gripper 59 again closes, holding theseized contact fast,

being driven from the main feed shaft 51 by the bevel gears 71 and 7 5(see Fig. 8.)

To insert the selected eyelet or contact in the mold, there is providedmeans for disengaging the contact from the grippers and directing itinto the mold in its appropriate position. Herein such means areembodied in the form of a plunger 76 (see Fig. 6). The plungerreciprocates vertically in line with that mold designated as 2 in Fig.1, and in line with the contact piece when the latter is presented bythe grippers at their forward extreme movement. The plunger carries aprojecting end 77 of reduced diameter adapted to pass through theperforation of the contact and on which the latter when disengaged fromthe gripper jaws is free to gravitate into the mold.

The operationof inserting the contact is as follows: The mold carrieradvancing, brings the empty mold to rest in alinement with the plunger76. At the same time the selected contact is presented by the gripperjaws directly in line with the plunger. The end 77 of the descendingplunger passes through the perforation of the contact and into the mold.At the same time the grippers start to move back, this causing thepivoted gripper member 59 to yield and slide over the contact, which,being thereby disengaged, drops into the mold, its exact centering inthe bottom of the mold being insured by the guiding stem 77 on theplunger. The plunger then lifts, leaving the mold carrier free toadvance the next mold for a repetition of the same cycle' of opera--tions. The plunger is raised and lowered in suitable timed relation tothe movement of the mold carrier by means of the verticallyreciprocating head 78 (Figs. 1,2 and 6). The latter is secured to thereciprocatory rod 79 (Figs. 6 and 7) which is actuated through the linkconnection 80 to the bell crank lever 81, the latter pivoted at 82 tothe bracket 83 (Figs 6 and 7) the bell crank lever being oscillated bythe facecam 81. The latter is driven by means of the gear 85 meshingwith the gear 86. which latter is connected to the sleeve 87 fixed onthe main power shaft 88 of the base .forming machine. The head 78 isadditionally guided by the guide rod 89 secured thereto and sliding inthe guideways on the frame.

Referring now to the insertion in the mold of the shell contact 4:, thelatter is introduced therein at a subsequent step in the travel of themold and herein in the second position or that represented by the mold 2(Fig. 1). Referring to F igs; 12 to l i, inclusive, a quantity of theshell contacts are maintained in a large inclined hopper having the mainrotatable cylindrical body 90 and the fixed bottom 91. The lower edge ofthe hopper is provided with a series of discharge openings 92 of suchshape that the shells can escape therefrom only right side up, suchopenings permitting the passage of the shells to a guidewav partlyencircling the hopper, the bottoin of which guideway is formed by aprolongation of the fixed hopper bottom 91. I

The hopper bottom is provided with a series of radial slots 93 in whichmay be secured at appropriate points suitable obstructing or agitatingdevices so placed as to assist the discharge of the shells through theopenings 92. Herein there is provided a series of three pegs 91 near theupper side of the hopper just beyond the point of great-, est elevationand a baflie plate 95 on the bottom side thereof. These obstructionstend to keep the major mass of the shells in the uppermost part of thehopper, permitting them to gravitate to the lowermost part of the hopperonly in close proximity to the openings 92 so that the latter tend tobecome filled with the shells and the shells to gravitate through theopenings into the guideway as they descend toward the lowermostpositionof the hopper bottom.

The hopper is rotated in the directionof the arrow shown in Fig. 12 bymeans of the gear 96 secured to the outside of the hopper drum andmeshing with the driving pinion 97. The latter has a friction drive topermit slippage in case the feed of the shells becomes ammed, being forthat purpose pressed between the friction disks 98 and 99 by means ofthe spring 100. The friction disks are driven from the short shaft 101(Fig. 15) the latter having movement im-' parted thereto by the beveledgears 102 and 103 and the upright shaft 104, which latter is connectedto be driven from the main feed shaft 51 by the beveled gears 105 and106 (Fig. 8).

The hopper openings may occasionally receive shells which are defectiveor which become jammed therein. To clear the openings of such shells wehave provided a clearing device which herein consists of the toothedwheel 107 (Figs. 12 and 13) the teeth of which mesh with the openings 92i means of a latch lever 110 it can be fixedly engaged with ordisengaged from the segment 111 and thereby applied or withdrawn. Theshell contacts discharged into the guideway are conveyed to acontinuation of the guideway which extends over the rotary feedplate 112(Fig. 16) and to gripping and transferring devices of quite similarconstruction to those previously described.

tending thereover.

Although substantially the same means might be employed for advancingthem to the feed plate 112, means are herein shown which differ somewhatin specific details from those used for advancing the eyelets. Hereinthe shells are forced by the movement'of the hopper up an inclinedportion of the fixed guideway and into agravity chute portion 113thereof (see Figs. 1, 12, 14 and 16), by means of which they aredelivered down upon the feed plate 112 and into the prolongation of theguideway, ex-

Referring to Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, the side 114 and bottom 115 ofthe stationary or initial portion of the guideway is formed by theprojecting walls of the hopper. bottom. At and along the positionwhereat the shells tend to gravitate through the hopperopenings theguideway is provided with a supplemental side wall 116 comprising aresilient strip secured to the side wall 114 and gradually convergingtoward the hopper wall. As the shell pieces gravitate out of the hopperopenings during the rotation'of the'latter, instead of falling directlyout of the hopper, they first strike the converging side wall 116- andgradually work into the wider portion of the guideway until they arewholly contained therein. The escape of the'shells from the hopperbeyond the converging side wall 116 is prevented by means of the fixedinner guideway wall 117 which (Figs.- 12 and 13) interposes apartitionbetween the hopper openings and the guideway beyond the wall 116. Thegradual escape of the shells as permitted by the side wall 116 gives thehopper a grip upon the shells which have emerged part way only into theguideway and causes these shells to force those ahead in the line ofwholly -discharged shells along the guideway, up the incline thereof andinto the gravity chute 113.

The guide wall 116 is adjustable within suitable limits toward or fromthe hopper by means of the adjusting screw 118 so that the force withwhich the hopper presses ahead on the line of shells can be varied. Thetop of the guideway is closed by means of the hinged cover 119, thelatter being provided with a series of openings 120 through which thebehaviorof the shells may be observed.

, It will be seen that, while the shells are delivered to the guidewayby gravity, they are forcibly advanced up the incline thereof by theturning movement of the hopper until the abrupt turn in the guidewayisreached, whereat they drop into the gravity chute 113 and slide downinto contact with the rotary feed plate 112.

Means are preferably provided, as in the case of the eyelet feedingapparatus, to prevent interruption of the feed through jamming orovercrowding, the parts being so shaped and the relative location of theexit- 121 and side wall 122 is such that, if the feed plate 112 isover-supplied with shells they back up into the chute, forming acontinuous line so that the next shell reaching the chute strikes thepreceding shell and is deflected into the lateral exit 121 falling intothe underlying fixed chute 123, whereby it is dis charged into a barrelor other suitable receptacle. If the preceding-shell, however,

has advanced well into the gravity chute the pressure of the succeedingshells will force the shell in question also into the chute instead ofcausing its deflection through the exit.

Referring now to the feed plate 112, the latter is driven in thedirection-of the arrow by means of the underlying bevel gear 124 (Fig.17 driven by the beveled pinion 125 and sprocket wheel 126, the latterhaving driving connection to the main feed shaft 51 (Fig.8) through thechain 127 and sprocket driving wheel 128..

The side walls of the guideway extension over the feed plate are formedby the fixed segment 129 (Figs. 16 and 17) fastened to the fixed base130, the top of the guideway being covered by means of the segmentalplate 131 fastened 'to the fixed segment 132. The plate has longitudinalopenings 133 and is secured to the segment by the screws 134 whichpassthrough slots having enlarged ends so that the topl may be removedfor inspection or to wit draw damaged shells.

Shells passing along the guideway are discharged one by one intogripping devices 135 and 136, being adapted to engage a shell and conveyit over a mold. The pivoted aw member is normally drawn against aselected shell by' means of the spring 137 but, on its return movement,strikes the end of the adjustable screw 138 carried by the fixed arm 139and is swung back so as to receive a shell expelled from the guideway(see Fig. 18). The grippers are carried by the gripper arm 140 which isoscillated by the rock lever 1 11, connecting rod 112 and crank disk143, there being provided a friction connection between the arm 110 andlever 141 similar to that between the arm 56 and lever 63 previouslydescribed. The crank disk (see Fig. 8) is carried by a shaft to thelower end of which is secured the gear 144, the latter meshing with thegear 1 15 on the shaft 116. The lower end of the shaft 146 carries thebeveled gear 147 meshing with the beveled gear 148 on the main shaft 51.

The shells, when released from the hopper outlet and picked off singlyby the grippers, are conveyed over a mold in the same fashion as theeyelets, whereupon a plunger 149 (Fig.- 6) descends into the shellcausing its release from the jaws which latter immediately retract andopen. The continued descent of the plunger directs the shell squarelyinto the mold so that as the plunger lifts the shell is left accuratelyseated in the re-' quired position.

The plunger is slidably mounted in the holder 150 carried by thevertically reciprocating head 7 8 being normally pressed down by thestiff spring 151 so that it has a slight yielding movement. The plunger119 being depressed simultaneously with the eyelet plunger 76, theeyelet and the shell are placed in their respective moldssimultaneously;

The above described feeding mechanism may be carried by, and constitutea part of, the base making machine, but preferably, and as shown herein,its principal parts are carried upon a separate frame 152, which may beplaced adjacent to a standard base making machine provided with theplungers 149 and 76 and temporarily secured to the frame of suchmachine. Such base making machine may then be used either with theautomatic feeding mechanism or may be used with a manual feed, thefeeding frame 152 being removed and plungers 7 6 and 149 beingdisconnected from the driving mechamsm.

To drive the feeding attachment from the main machine and in timedrelation thereto when constructed as a separate attachment therefrom asshown in the drawing, the main feeding shaft 51 is provided with, adriving sprocket wheel 153 which is driven by a driving chain 154:(Figs. 7', 8 and 9), the latter is connected to a sprocket wheel 155carried by a short shaft 156 on the main machine frame. The shaft 156 isdriven (Fig. 6) by the intermeshing bevel-gears 157 and 158, the latterbeing carried by a shaft 159 having the gear 160 meshing with thebevel-gear 161 on the sleeve 87 driven by the main driving shaft 88.

The feeding-mechanism may be thrown into or out of operation by means ofa clutch interposed between the main feeding shaft 51 and the sprocketwheel 153. This clutch (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) comprises a driving member162 having a circumferential collar 'groove and a slidable driving pin163 carried by the driving member and normally seated in a depression inthe face of the sprocket wheel 153 by means of a spring 164:. Thatportion of the driving pin, however, opposite the collar groove isslotted and has a beveled edge 165 which, in the r0- tation of thedriving member, is brought against the beveled edge 166 of an areshapedoperating finger 167, if the latter is lifted and seated in the collargroove. This results in drawing the driving pin 163 out of thedepression in the sprocket and in disconnecting the power from thedriving shaft. To lift the finger, the latter is pivotally supported at168 and is connected to the link 169 and thereby to the rock shaft 170,the latter extending to the front of the machine, whereat it hasattached the handle 171 by which the rock shaft may be turned and thefinger raised to cut off the power.

While often unnecessary, it may be sometimes desirable, to insert thesmall center contact into the mold with a mold bottom thereon lifted soas to decrease the distance which the contact is obliged to descendbefore reaching the mold bottom. This may be readily accomplished in thedescribed form of machine by providing at the appropriate place alifting cam or other device, such as the appropriately inclined arm 172(Fig. 2) hinged at 173 on the machine frame. The opposite end of the armrests upon the screw 17-1 so that its elevation may be adjusted the armbeing so located that, as the I escape of articles from the hopper tothe guideway. the guideway being so formed as to cause the gradualemergence of said articles through said openings thereby to force thepreceding articles along on said guideway, said hopper being adapted todeliver articles to the guideway in excess of the requirements of themachine, and means providing for the escape from said guideway of theexcess of articles so delivered.

2. In an automatic feeding mechanism for feeding articles to a givenoperation, the combination with a discharge hopper, having a series ofopenings through which the said articles are adapted to be discharged,and a toothed clearing wheel journaled on a swinging arm adjacent saidhopper whereby said wheel may be caused to engage the openings in saidhopper.-

. 3. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a hopper having arotatable cylindrical body, discharge openings in the lower edge thereofthrough which the articles contained in the hopper may be discharged,said hopper being supported at an inclination, and a guideway partlyencircling said hopper, the walls of said guideway converging towardsaid hopper near the lowermost portion thereof, whereby the dischargedar- (ticles are allowedwto emerge gradually into the guideway and causethe forcible advance of the preceding articles contained in theguideway.

4. In a feeding mechanism the combination with a receptacle, a guidewayinto which articles are discharged from the receptacle, means forforcing the articles along the guideway, said guideway having aninclined portion to form a gravity chute and having an abrupt turn atthe beginning of said chute, and a lateral exit in said guideway locatedopposite said turn to permit the escape of articles fed thereto toexcess of the requirements of the mechanism.

5. In 'a feeding mechanism an inclined hopper for holding the articlesto be fed having a rotary cylindrical wall and a stationary bottomextending from wall to wall, said wall having discharge openings at thebottom thereof, and means for directing the said articles toward saidopenings.

6. In a feeding mechanism an inclined hopper for holding the articles tobe fed having a rotary cylindrical wall and a stationary bottom, saidwall having discharge openings at the bottom thereof, and stationary'meansfor directing the said articles toward said openings.

7 In a feeding mechanism an inclined hopper for holding the articles tobe fed having a rotary cylindrical wall and a stationary bottom, saidwall having discharge openings at the bottom thereof, and stationarymeans carried by the said bottom for directing the said articles towardsaid openm s.

In a feeding mechanism the combination of a hopper comprising a rotarywall having discharge openings at the bottom thereof and a stationaryguideway communicating with said openings comprising a movable wall andmeans for adjusting the position thereof to vary the width of saidguideway.

9. In a feeding mechanism-the combination of a hopper comprising arotary wall having discharge openings at the bottom thereof and astationary guideway communicating with said openings comprising aresilient wall, and means for adjusting the position thereof to vary thewidth of said guideway.

10. In a machine for making bases, the combination of a plurality ofmechanisms each feeding contacts, a series of molds movably supportedadjacent the outlets of said feeding means, and means for transferringand inserting a contact from each of said feeding means simultaneouslyinto different molds.

11. In a machine for making bases, the combination of a plurality ofmechanisms each feeding contacts, a seriesof molds movably supportedadjacent the outlets of said feeding mechanisms, a transferring meansfor presenting a plurality of contacts simultaneously each over a mold,and means for simultaneously inserting each of said contacts in itsrespective mold.

12. In a machine for making bases, the combination of a series of moldsand means for moving said series in a horizontal plane, a plurality offeeding mechanisms having outlets adjacent the path of travel of saidmolds each comprising means for presenting a contact over one of saidmolds and means adapted to engage simultaneously with each of saidcontacts for inserting the same into a mold. I

13. In a machine for making bases, the combination of a series of moldsand means for moving said series in a horizontal plane, a plurality offeeding mechanisms having outlets adjacent the path of travel of saidmolds each comprising means for presenting a contact over one of saidmolds and a plunger adapted to engage simultaneously with each of saidcontacts for inserting thesame into a mold.

14. In a machine for forming incandescent lamp bases,the combination ofa rotaa shell and means whereby said plungers are caused to actsimultaneously each on a part for a different mold.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day of Aug.1916.

THOMAS I. WALKER. JULIUS A. AKEROYD.

